What went wrong in Warriors’ 122-121 loss to Rockets

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Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant (35) reacts after they lose to the Houston Rockets in the fourth quarter of their season opener at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2017. Durant missed to beat the buzzer and the Rockets for a fraction of a second. Rockets won 122-121. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant (35) lays up a shot and scores on his attempt to beat the buzzer and the Houston Rockets in the fourth quarter of their season opener at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2017.The referees reviewed the play and it was ruled no good. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

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Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant (35) and Houston Rockets react after Durant made a shot and scored on his attempt to beat the buzzer in the fourth quarter of their season opener at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2017.The referees reviewed the play and it was ruled out. Rockets won 122-121. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry (30) and teammates celebrate momentarily the winning basket by Kevin Durant (35) against the Houston Rockets in the fourth quarter of their season opener at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2017. The referees reviewed the play and it was ruled out because Durant missed to beat the buzzer for a fraction of a second. Rockets won 122-121. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry (30) congratulates Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant (35) on what they thought was the game winning basket against the Houston Rockets to end the fourth quarter at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif. on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2017. Durant was unable to get the shot off before time expired for a 122-121 loss. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group

Houston Rockets' James Harden (13) dribbles against Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry (30) in the second half of their season opener at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2017. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

Houston Rockets' James Harden (13) dribbles against Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry (30) in the second half of their season opener at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2017. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors' Draymond Green (23) reacts as he holds his left knee after he was fouled against the Houston Rockets in the second half of their season opener at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2017. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors' Draymond Green (23) reacts in pain from his left knee after he was fouled against the Houston Rockets in the second half of their season opener at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2017. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors' Draymond Green (23) rubs his leg/knee after a foul against the Houston Rockets in the third quarter at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif. on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2017. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors' Draymond Green (23) limps to the foul line after a foul against the Houston Rockets in the third quarter at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif. on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2017. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors' Nick Young (6) reacts after he scored and drew a foul against the Houston Rockets in the second quarter of their season opener at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2017. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant (35) lays up a shot against Houston Rockets' Chris Paul (3) in the second quarter of their season opener at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2017. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant (35) gets in a shooting position against the Houston Rockets in the second quarter of their season opener at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2017. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors' Draymond Green (23) hangs from the basket after a dunk against the Houston Rockets in the second quarter of their season opener at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2017. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry (30) takes a shot against the Houston Rockets in the second quarter at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif. on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2017. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant (35) dribbles against Houston Rockets' PJ Tucker (4) in the second quarter of their season opener at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2017. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry (30) makes a shot as he is fouled against the Houston Rockets in the second quarter of their season opener at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2017. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant (35) takes a shot against the Houston Rockets in the second quarter at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif. on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2017. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry (30) celebrates a 3-point basket by Golden State Warriors' Nick Young (6) against the Houston Rockets in the first quarter at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif. on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2017. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

The Golden State Warriors pose with their NBA Championship rings after the Championship ring ceremony before their season opener against the Houston Rockets at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2017. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors co-owner Peter Gube shows off his 2016-2017 NBA Championship rings after the Championship ring ceremony before their season opener against the Houston Rockets at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2017. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

NBA commissioner Adam Silver greets Golden State Warriors co-owner Peter Guber before the Championship ring ceremony before their season opener against the Houston Rockets at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2017. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors co-owners Joe Lacob, left, and Peter Guber show off his 2016-2017 NBA Championship rings after the Championship ring ceremony before their season opener against the Houston Rockets at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2017. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant (35), left receives the 2016-2017 NBA Championship ring from co-owners Joe Lacob and Peter Guber during their Championship ring ceremony before their season opener against the Houston Rockets at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2017. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant (35) acknowledges the audience as he receives the 2016-2017 NBA Championship ring from co-owners Joe Lacob and Peter Guber (not pictured) during their Championship ring ceremony before their season opener against the Houston Rockets at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2017. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry (30) receives the 2016-2017 NBA Championship ring from co-owners Joe Lacob and Peter Guber during their Championship ring ceremony before their season opener against the Houston Rockets at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2017. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

The Golden State Warriors 2017 NBA Championship banner is unveiled before their game against the Houston Rockets at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif. on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2017. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant (35) dances with Golden State Warriors' Draymond Green (23) after receiving their 2017 NBA Championship ring before their game against the Houston Rockets at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif. on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2017. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

The Golden State Warriors prepare to receive their 2017 NBA Championship ring before their game against the Houston Rockets at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif. on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2017. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

OAKLAND — Opening night should have showcased two predominant themes that could define the 2017-18 NBA season.

The Warriors held nearly a half-hour ring ceremony to commemorate their 2017 NBA championship, as Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green flashed jewelry they are also expected to wear next year. The Houston Rockets then took the court in hopes to state their early case that Chris Paul’s arrival would be enough to overthrow the defending champions.

It turns out, though, that the Rockets did not need Paul to beat them. The Warriors lost, 122-121, to Houston on Tuesday at the Oracle in a game Warriors coach Steve Kerr said, “we deserved to lose.”

“We didn’t have energy from most of our group tonight,” Kerr added.

Yet, the outcome could have gone the other way if a few things happened.

If Durant released a jumper that swished into the net a second earlier, the Warriors (0-1) could have walked away with a win over the Rockets (1-0). If Curry had not missed a 3-point shot beforehand, the Rockets may not have had enough time to respond.

“I thought I had a chance, but I knew it was a little too late,” Durant said. “I knew it was cutting close, but you have to give Shaun Livingston credit for keeping the basketball alive and just giving us a chance.”

If Draymond Green (left knee strain), Andre Iguodala (strained back) and Omri Casspi (sprained right ankle) did not show up on the injured list, perhaps the Warriors could rely on their depth. If the Warriors played with the same edge as they did with a 17-point lead, then they would have allowed Houston to open the fourth quarter on a 9-0 run.

The Warriors knew about Iguodala’s absence after also missing Friday’s pre-season finale against Sacramento. Green and Casspi suffered their ailments during the game, though Green said afterwards, “I’m all right. I’m good.”

Nonetheless, Kerr noted that “Draymond’s injury changed everything for us.” Despite favoring his knee after drawing a foul on Houston forward Trevor Ariza, Green stayed in and made two foul shots for a 101-88 lead with 12 seconds left in the third quarter. He sat in the fourth quarter, as the Rockets went on their run.

“When we’re lacking conditioning like we are right now, you have to have your high energy guys out there,” Kerr said. “As soon as he went out of the game, things went south for us. We just couldn’t get any traction.”

As a result, the Warriors lost their season-opener for the second consecutive season. Still, last year’s 29-point season-opening loss to San Antonio became a forgotten footnote nine months later when they hoisted the Larry O’Brien trophy.

Still, Kerr said “we’re not ready yet” only four hours after boasting about the team’s depth.

“We have a very deep team,” Kerr said beforehand. “On nights maybe we don’t have the motivation and energy, we have a lot of guys to go to that should be able to help us in that capacity.”

It initially appeared the Warriors could rely on their depth.

After signing last summer to a one-year, $5.2 million deal, Warriors reserve forward Nick Young completed training camp struggling with his conditioning and shooting accuracy. He then opened his first regular-season game with the Warriors with a team-leading 23 points, while shooting 8-of-9 from the field and 6-of-7 from 3-point range in 26 minutes off the bench.

“I’ve been feeling more comfortable out there,” Young said. “It’s a great thing when you got teammates telling you to shoot the ball and having that much confidence in you. That’s what I got to do, be confident out there and play my role.”

Durant mostly played his role.

After winning Finals MVP and winning his first NBA tittle, Durant had just completed his second training camp with the Warriors with few worries on how he would fit in with his established teammates. He then opened the 2017-18 season with a team-leading 23 points while shooting 7-of-15 from the field as well as seven assists and five rebounds.

Green had nine points and 13 assists, but had his knee injury. Curry had 22 points on 8-of-18 shooting, but he missed three of his first four shots in the first half and committed four fouls. Thompson had 16 points, but he only shot 6-of-14 from the field.

The Warriors did not allow Paul to flourish, but James Harden (27 points), Eric Gordon (20) and P.J. Tucker (20) played against a Warriors team that may have felt last week’s China trip catching up to them. For a team that tries to perfect the fundamentals, the Warriors committed 17 turnovers and 25 fouls.

“It doesn’t matter the cause of it,” Kerr said. “We just got to get in better shape.”